Journeyman electrician under IBEW Local 480 in Jackson, MS earn $27.35/hr in base wages, or $37.50/hr as a total package with fringe benefits, effective Oct 2022. This sheet is more than 2 years old, so confirm the current rate with the hall before quoting it.
IBEW Local 480 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
The Local 480 pay scale is $27.35 per hour for journeymen in Jackson, MS, or about $54,700 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $37.50 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
| Local 480 journeyman hourly wage | $27.35 / hour |
|---|---|
| Total package (wage + fringe benefits) | $37.50 / hour |
| Annualized at 2,080 hours (base wage) | $54,700 / year |
| First-period apprentice (≈45–50% of scale) | $12.31–$13.68 / hour |
| Wage sheet effective | 10/21/22 |
| Classification | Journeyman Inside Wireman |
A Local 480 apprentice in Jackson, MS starts at roughly $12.31 an hour — about 45% of the $27.35 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $20.51 an hour by the fourth year and full scale on turning out. These are the standard percentage steps of scale, not a wage sheet Local 480 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
| 1st period (year 1) | 45% of scale | $12.31 / hour | $24,615 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd period (year 2) | 55% of scale | $15.04 / hour | $30,085 |
| 3rd period (year 3) | 65% of scale | $17.78 / hour | $35,555 |
| 4th period (year 4) | 75% of scale | $20.51 / hour | $41,025 |
| 5th period (year 5) | 85% of scale | $23.25 / hour | $46,495 |
| Journeyman (turned out) | 100% of scale | $27.35 / hour | $54,700 |
IBEW Local 480 represents professional inside wiremen and electrical workers across Jackson and the surrounding Central Mississippi region. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored the labor trends in this market, where Local 480 serves as the primary labor source for commercial, industrial, and institutional electrical installations. The local operates under the umbrella of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, providing a standardized workforce for signatory contractors who require highly skilled labor for complex power distribution, lighting systems, and integrated building controls. This presence ensures that major infrastructure projects in the state capital and its neighboring counties maintain rigorous safety and quality standards.
The electrical market in Central Mississippi is characterized by a mix of public sector construction, healthcare facility upgrades, and industrial manufacturing expansions. Local 480 members play a critical role in these developments by offering a pipeline of journeymen who have completed rigorous National Electrical Benefit Fund-supported training. For contractors, partnering with this local provides access to a scalable workforce, which is essential for managing the fluctuating labor demands of large-scale mechanical and electrical projects. As the regional economy evolves, the demand for specialized electrical work in data centers and modernized industrial plants continues to define the local's strategic importance in the Mississippi construction landscape.
["As of October 21, 2022, the Journeyman Inside Wireman rate for IBEW Local 480 is set at $27.35 per hour. When accounting for the full fringe benefit load, the total package reaches $37.50 per hour. Apprentices within the Local 480 JATC program earn a progressive percentage of this journeyman scale, typically starting around 40% to 50% and increasing annually as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. This tiered structure allows entry-level workers to earn a living wage while gaining the technical proficiency needed for licensure. It is important to note that these figures represent the minimum scale set by the collective bargaining agreement; specialized roles or foreman positions often command additional premiums above the base rate."]
["The jurisdiction for IBEW Local 480 covers a significant portion of Central Mississippi, centered in Jackson and extending through the surrounding rural and suburban counties. Members are dispatched to project sites ranging from downtown high-rises to industrial corridors along the interstate. The agreement covers all inside electrical wiring, including power distribution, motor controls, and low-voltage systems within the chartered territory. Workers must be prepared for travel within these county lines, as the local maintains authority over the labor supply for any signatory project occurring in this region. This geographic footprint ensures that labor costs and work rules remain consistent for contractors operating across multiple municipalities in the central part of the state."]
["The signatory contractor landscape for IBEW Local 480 includes a diverse array of firms ranging from large multi-state electrical primes to specialized local shops focusing on service and maintenance. These contractors frequently handle the electrical scope for major regional healthcare systems, university campus expansions, and state government facilities. Hiring typically fluctuates based on major project awards, with the local acting as a referral hall to match qualified wiremen with open calls. For mechanical contractors and developers, this ecosystem provides a reliable mechanism for benchmarking labor costs and ensuring that electrical subcontractors adhere to uniform safety protocols and apprenticeship training standards prevalent in the Jackson market."]
The hourly rate of $27.35 is the gross pay an IBEW Local 480 journeyman sees on their paycheck before taxes. The total package of $37.50 includes the additional $10.15 in employer-paid benefits like health insurance and pension contributions. These fringes are paid by the contractor on top of the wage and are not deducted from the employee's hourly take-home pay.
Local 480 utilizes a standard referral hall system where members sign an 'out-of-work' list. When signatory contractors have an opening, the local dispatches members based on their position on the list and their specific qualifications. This ensures fair distribution of work and allows contractors to quickly scale up for large projects without traditional recruiting overhead.
Electricians holding a valid IBEW travel card from another local can check in with the 480 business manager for 'Book 2' work. Those looking to transfer permanently must follow the local's bylaws regarding residency and membership transfer. Non-union electricians moving to the area will typically need to demonstrate their hours of experience to be placed in the appropriate classification.
Local 480 primarily focuses on Inside Wireman work, which covers commercial and industrial sectors. While some locals have a separate residential agreement with lower rates for home construction, the $27.35 journeyman rate typically applies to the standard 'Inside' building trades work. It is best to verify with the hall if a specific residential addendum is currently active.
IBEW Local 480 is seated in Jackson, Mississippi (MS). We hold published wage sheets for 5 locals across Mississippi — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Jackson and the rest of Mississippi, including contractors signatory to IBEW Local 480. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements, 4160 Temescal Canyon Road, Suite 401, Corona, CA 92883. Phone (951) 208-7780. Email hello@gulfstreamsp.com. Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM Pacific.View our verified Google Business Profile
Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
The Local 480 pay scale is $27.35 per hour for journeymen in Jackson, MS, or about $54,700 a year at 2,080 hours. The total package, including employer-paid fringe benefits, is $37.50 per hour. That is the last wage sheet we can source for this local — confirm the current rate with the hall.
Journeyman electrician under the IBEW Local 480 agreement make $27.35 an hour in base wages, or $37.50 an hour counting the fringe package, per the wage sheet effective 10/21/22. Overtime, shift premiums, and travel or subsistence pay are added on top under the local's CBA.
$27.35 per hour base wage and $37.50 per hour total package for a journeyman in Jackson, MS, effective 10/21/22. Annualized at 2,080 hours that is roughly $54,700 before overtime.
A Local 480 apprentice in Jackson, MS starts at roughly $12.31 an hour — about 45% of the $27.35 journeyman scale — and steps up each period, reaching around $20.51 an hour by the fourth year and full scale on turning out. These are the standard percentage steps of scale, not a wage sheet Local 480 has published; confirm the exact schedule with the JATC.
About $12.31 an hour, or roughly $24,615 a year at 2,080 hours, based on the standard 45% first-period step of the $27.35 journeyman rate effective 10/21/22. Apprentices also earn benefit contributions and paid classroom progression; the JATC sets the exact percentage.
Around $17.78 an hour at the standard 65% third-period step, moving to about $20.51 an hour in the fourth period and $27.35 an hour at full journeyman scale. Confirm the published step schedule with the Local 480 training center.
The current IBEW Local 480 journeyman rate is $27.35/hour, with a total package of $37.50/hour including fringe benefits, effective 10/21/22. At 2,080 hours that works out to roughly $54,700 per year in base wages before overtime. Rates change with each CBA cycle — confirm with the Local 480 business office before relying on the figure.
The $27.35/hour figure is the base journeyman wage that lands on the paycheck. The $37.50/hour total package adds employer-paid fringes — health and welfare, pension, annuity, apprenticeship training, and industry funds. Contractors bid work off the total package, so that is the number that matters when comparing electricians labor costs across locals.
Apprentices under the IBEW Local 480 agreement are paid a graduated percentage of the journeyman rate, typically starting near 40–50% in the first period and stepping up each six-month or annual period until reaching 100% at turnout. Against the current $27.35/hour journeyman rate, a first-period apprentice would be in the $12.31–$13.68/hour range. The exact percentage schedule is set by the local's JATC.
IBEW Local 480 is headquartered in Jackson, MS and dispatches electricians manpower throughout its chartered jurisdiction. Work performed inside that territory falls under the local's collective bargaining agreement and wage schedule, even when the contractor is based elsewhere and travels in.
Most locals require applicants to be at least 18, legally able to work in the U.S., hold a high school diploma or GED, pass a basic math/aptitude assessment and a drug screen, and be physically able to perform electricians work. Some Local 480 programs give preference to applicants inside the jurisdiction or to veterans. Eligibility rules are set by the local's Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), so confirm the current criteria with the hall before applying.
Apprenticeship applications go through the IBEW Local 480 JATC, not through a contractor or a recruiter. Applications typically open in defined intake windows each year: you submit the application with proof of age, education, and residency, sit for an aptitude test, and then interview. Ranked applicants are placed on an eligibility list and indentured as signatory contractors call for apprentices. Gulfstream Strategic Placements does not process apprenticeship applications — contact the Local 480 training center directly.
Electricians apprenticeships generally run four to five years — roughly 8,000–10,000 hours of on-the-job training plus several hundred classroom hours per year. Apprentices earn a paycheck the entire time, stepping up through the wage periods until they turn out as journeymen at 100% of scale.
Signatory contractors hire through the local's hiring hall, so working under the IBEW Local 480 agreement generally means being a member or being organized in through the local's process. Journeymen from other locals can travel in by signing the out-of-work book, subject to the local's referral rules and manpower needs. Non-union electricians professionals are usually placed with open-shop contractors instead — we recruit for both.
Rates move with the collective bargaining agreement, typically on a fixed anniversary date each year of a three- to five-year contract, with negotiated increases split between the base wage and the fringe package. The figures on this page reflect the 10/21/22 schedule; check with the Local 480 business office for any increase that has taken effect since.
Wage rates vary widely by local and market. Use the Union Pay Scale Explorer to sort every UA and SMART local by hourly wage, total package, and annualized pay so you can benchmark Local 480 against neighboring jurisdictions and other electricians markets.